EV’s Pros and Cons

There is no definitive answer to whether you should or should not become an EV owner, as it depends on your personal preferences, needs, and circumstances. However, some possible reasons why, in the UK, you might decide not to want to buy an electric car:

• Long charging times: Unlike refuelling a petrol or diesel car, which takes a few minutes, charging an electric car can take several hours, depending on the type of charger and the battery capacity¹. This can be inconvenient if you need to travel long distances or don’t have access to a fast charger.
• High upfront cost: Electric cars tend to be more expensive than comparable petrol or diesel cars, mainly due to the cost of the battery. Even with government grants and incentives, you may still pay a premium for an electric car¹. However, you may save money in the long run due to lower running costs and maintenance.
• Limited range: Electric cars have a limited range compared to petrol or diesel cars, which means you may need to plan your trips more carefully and factor in charging stops. The range of an electric car depends on various factors, such as the battery size, driving style, weather conditions, and road terrain¹. Some electric cars can travel over 300 miles on a single charge, but others may only manage half of that.
• Charging infrastructure issues: Although the number of public charging points is increasing, there may still be areas where they are scarce or unreliable. You may also face issues such as incompatible plugs, occupied or broken chargers, or high fees¹. If you don’t have a home charger or a dedicated parking space, you may find it difficult to charge your car regularly and conveniently.
• Environmental impact: Electric cars are not completely emission-free, as they still rely on electricity that may come from fossil fuels or other non-renewable sources. The production and disposal of batteries also have environmental impacts, such as mining, transportation, and recycling². However, electric cars are generally cleaner than petrol or diesel cars over their lifetime, especially if they use renewable electricity sources³.

These are some of the common disadvantages of electric cars that you may want to consider before becoming an EV owner. However, there are so also many new advantages of owning an electric vehicle that may now outweigh the drawbacks for some people. Ultimately, the decision is up to you and what suits your lifestyle best.

?There are many reasons why you might want to buy an electric vehicle (EV). Here are a few of the main benefits:

• Cleaner environment: EVs have no tailpipe, so they don’t emit any exhaust gases, which reduces local air pollution particularly in congested cities¹.
• No congestion charge: Some areas are introducing Clean Air Zones with fees designed to discourage polluting vehicles from entering certain areas. A key benefit of an electric car is being exempt from these charges¹.
• Lower running costs: On average, an electric car costs less than £1.30 to drive 100 miles (based on the  GoElectric 35 tariff during off-peak hours) vs. £11.05 for a petrol car¹. There’s also cheaper service and maintenance plus low or no vehicle tax².
• Renewable electricity tariffs: Our EV electricity tariffs are all renewable. Power your electric car and home with our choice of GoElectric tariffs¹.
• Better driving experience: EVs have more responsive acceleration and regenerative braking when easing off the accelerator. They tend to have a low centre of gravity, which improves handling, comfort and safety¹.
• EV grants: There are a few schemes that help make a switch to drive electric cars. The government grants include help with charging points at home and at work as well as buying a new EV¹.
• Free parking: You can often find free, priority or dedicated parking bays for electric cars, positioned with convenient access in mind. For example, in Milton Keynes, there are more than 15,000 city centre bays where electric car drivers can park for free¹.
• Less noise: EVs are much quieter than petrol and diesel vehicles. In fact, electric cars are so quiet, they are now required by law to have an Acoustic Vehicle Alert System (AVAS) to emit a sound when reversing or travelling below 12mph (19km/h)¹.
• Better resale value: Second-hand electric cars could be a great affordable option if you’re looking to make the switch from petrol. It’s worth remembering too the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles will be banned from 2030¹.

I hope this helps you better understand some of the advantages of electric cars. If you want to learn more, you can check out this article on how electric cars are better for the environment.

EV Battery Life

The average lifespan of an EV battery is not a fixed number, as it depends on various factors such as the type, size, and quality of the battery, the driving style and habits of the owner, the charging frequency and method, the ambient temperature and weather conditions, and the maintenance and care of the vehicle.

However, based on some sources, I can give you a rough estimate of how long an EV battery might last.

According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, today’s batteries may last 12 to 15 years in moderate climates¹. That means they’ll potentially outlive the cars they’re installed in. Many experts peg the lifespan of an EV battery at between 100,000 and 200,000 miles¹. However, some manufacturers already promise much more than that. For example, Tesla claims that its batteries can last for up to 500,000 miles².

Of course, these numbers are not guarantees, and your actual experience may vary depending on how you use and charge your EV. There are also ways to extend the lifespan of your EV battery, such as avoiding extreme temperatures, keeping the charge level between 20% and 80%, using slow or moderate chargers instead of fast ones, driving smoothly and gently, and following the manufacturer’s recommendations for service and maintenance³.

Have a great day! ?

An EV Battery’s Second Life

One of the most exciting aspects of EV battery degradation for eco-conscious consumers is the fact that batteries can still serve a sustainable purpose after they leave your EV. Even as they lose efficiency to power a car (usually at 70% of their maximum charge potential), these powerful EV batteries retain enough life to pair with solar and can serve as secondary energy for your home. Some manufacturers even collect or buy back used batteries to sustainably power other projects, such as sports arenas. You can feel secure in knowing that the sustainability of your EV’s power continues long after it leaves your vehicle.

EV batteries continue to decrease in cost, travel more miles on a charge and retain longer life spans. Experts already suggest that EV batteries will exceed the longevity of ICE components, and the technology improves every year. It’s all good news: Your EV battery will serve your needs for years to come, and it can even be sustainably recycled after its life from powering your vehicle.